France again. Near a village, pool and poss waterslides....

[hillbilly]

We have only ever been to Les Valades which we loved, but the kids are older now (13 & 10) and we would like to go somewhere different. Tent camping. Walking distance to a village with shops and a market would be good, definitely a pool (slides optional), a bar and restaurant with maybe something going on in the evenings but not too hectic. Preferably not much further south than the Dordogne, but different area. I was contemplating Brittany but concerned the weather may be too much like here.

Any suggestions? I realise it's very late to book too.

Thanks!

[hillbilly]

Did a lot of searching through previous camping threads and have decided upon Sunelia La Ribeyre 😀

[profpoopsnagle]

we may well see you there then, depending on your dates! I'm not too sure though, how close it is to a village, and if it's reasonable to walk.

I am very much looking forward to seeing the Auvergne area though.

[hillbilly]

Prof I think we were at Les Valades the same year and Millimat too. We are going from 23rd July 😀

[profpoopsnagle]

Yes we were hillbilly -a few years ago now! Think we get there on the 5th Aug as popping to Burgundy for a few days before.

[millimat]

Haha I was going to say la ribeyre! It is very different to les valades, but as I've put before those are our two favourite sites ever.

[millimat]

It's possible to walk into murol but not the most exciting route. When we were there, DCs were fairly young so I think we only did it a couple of times.
You must visit the puy de dome. We loved there and the village called SuperBesse. There's one of those summery toboggan runs. We also enjoyed the puy du sancy. www.france-voyage.com/tourism/super-besse-1396.htm

[hillbilly]

Thanks Millimat I will have a look at those places mentioned. We are so excited. Hoping to hire bikes for a few days too 😀

[profpoopsnagle]

It's good that it's walkable Millimat. Thanks also for the recommendations, certainly looks like there is a lot to see there, we've booked 10 days but I'm not sure it will be enough!

[millimat]

We were there 11 nights and could have stayed a lot longer. The only thing was that there was a lot of traveling to get to places.

[hillbilly]

Millimat do you know if there are any cycling routes close to the site? Nothing too challenging we will be on holiday after all!

[hillbilly]

Millimat and Prof- we are here at La Ribeyre and it is such a great campsite! Thanks M fit the recommendation. We had quite a tough journey down as we did it in one go and getting around Paris was a nightmare. Everything about this place is great - the pool, the lake, even the restaurant is pretty good. We went to Lac Chambon today which was lovely but actually apart from the scenery I find the lake here better. We will no doubt do other trips but we are very lazy on holiday and so will probably spend a lot of time on the site 😂

[profpoopsnagle]

Excellent! Although we have 2 choices of route- around Paris or not, so will mull over that. Glad to hear the restaurant is great too. What's the weather like at the mo, and is it noticeably cooler at night?

[millimat]

Yay I'm so relieved! I'd hate to think that someone went to one then didn't enjoy it the same.
We preferred the lake onsite too.
If you don't venture far, at least make super besse one of your trips.

[millimat]

Hillbilly I can't remember easy cycling routes tbh.

[hillbilly]

Yes Millimat you're off the hook 😂

Prof it's dipping to around 17 at night. Localised thunder and lightening given that we are in the mountains. Daytime temps between 24-30.

When I say the restaurant is good, I mean it's good enough! Reasonably priced, and they have an efficient self serve system where you order and pay then collect when them shout out your number.

[hillbilly]

Def not going to bother hiring bikes - it's hard core cycling round here!

[millimat]

Prof & hillbilly I've decided that if you like there and les valades, I need to know your other favourite sites as I'm guessing I'd like them too. It's funny because those two sites are so different to each other.
Every year we look for new sites and in an ideal world would have both a lake and a pool.

[MinaPaws]

We loved Domaine des Ormes at Dol in Brittany. Three pools, with lazy river, waves, slides. Lake with pedalos. Pony rides and proper horse riding, zip wires and climbing wall for older DC. Nearby market town with lovely food market. On site restaurants, pizzeria and cafe. Nearby great excursions to Mont St Michel and DDay beaches etc. One of my favourite parts of France and so near.

[hillbilly]

Millimat yes great idea but we have only been to these 2 sites in France. I always look out for your recommendations though for the same reason!

[millimat]

Any other countries hillbilly?

[profpoopsnagle]

Millimat I think the sites we have liked are so varied, depending on what we want to do. In Wales, I love FForest fields, and it has a lake but not a pool. We liked Chateau Monfreville in Normandy and want to go back, but it's a completely different vibe.

We've travelled and camped a lot in Scandinavia, but the kids were smaller then so we tended to go for smaller sites, although many of them had a pool. Can't decide on next year, would like to get back to Scandinavia but that will involves a long drive; or look at Netherlands/Germany, possibly with a loop of West France (Jura, Strasbourg).

[millimat]

I'd love to go to Scandinavia camping. Been to Norway twice and loved it.
We're off to Normandy soon but not that site. Should've checked with you first

[millimat]

The weather was vile when we went to the Jura which is a shame as is put me off ever going back there. We're planning on returning to Germany at some point though.

[hillbilly]

No we have only ever camped abroad in France and only 4 times. We camp a lot in the UK though and probably get away every school holiday except Christmas (glamping in Oct and Feb!)

[hillbilly]

Prof we leave on the 6th but maybe see you on Sunday? We are on pitch 167 (the messiest pitch around surrounded by very tidy and organised French and Dutch families!)and we will no doubt eat in the bar that night.